Automatic radiator-valve.



A. OBRIEN.

AUTOMATIC RADIATOR VALVE.

nruonron Hmm 001.211.1909.

1,004,298. Patented sepa 26, 1911. j

-Ldcgll wLUMBlA PLANOGRAPM C0..WA5HIN010N. D.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR OBRIEN, 0F BUTTE, MONTANA, ASSIG'NOR 0F ONE-HALF TO ALF C. KREMERAND WILLIAM M. KIRKPATRICK, OF BUTTE, MONTANA.

AUTOMATIC RADIATOR-VALVE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1911.

Be it known that I, ARTHUR OBRIEN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Butte, in the county of Silver- `bow and Stateof Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 'inAutomatic Radiator-Valves; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear,

and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to theaccompanylng drawings, and to the numbers `of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that class of automatic air valves adapted foruse in connecltion with steam radiators or the like, to permit theescape of air therefrom when the heat is turned on. Numerous devices andvalves for this purpose have heretofore been devised, some of which haveproven ineffective and insufficient for the purpose for which intendedowing to the fact that the valve closure therein soon becomes more orless worn from use and fails to seat sufliciently well to prevent theescape of water through the valve. This, of course, frequently resultsin serious damage and loss. Some of such valves act expansively in clos-'ing against steam pressure, but it is Iimpor- '.tant as well to providepositive means for closing when the radiator is cold and lin thisrespect such valves are frequently defective. The object of thisinvention is to afford an air valve adapted to act expansively inclosing against steam pressure and provided 4'with a plurality of valvesfor closing against atmospheric pressure when the radiator is cooling.

It is also an object 'of the invention to provide an auxiliary Valve forclosing against water.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and morefully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a radiatorequipped l with an air valve embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is anenlarged vertical section of the 4air valve. Fig. 3 is a top plan viewthereof.

,Fig 4 is a section on line 4:-1 yof Fig. 1,

'with parts omitted.

As shown in the drawings: 1, indicates a radiator provided with theusual threaded aperture in the side of one of the sections Ythereof intowhich the valve is threaded.

Said valve comprises an elongated end or branch 2, threaded at a pointremote from its extremity, said unthreaded end being suiciently long toextend well within the radiator coil or section, as shown in Fig. 1.Said branch or end is provided with an interior bore or steam passageand integrally connected with said threaded end and on the .upper sidethereof is an upwardly extending valve casing 3, open at -its upper endand externally threaded at its upper end, as

rshown in Fig. 2. Said casing is provided with a downwardly taperingvalve seat 5, near its lower end and extending downwardly from said seatis a conically tapered seat 6, which communicates at its lower end withthe passage in lSaid end or branch.

lSeated in said conical passage or seat 6, are

three balls 7 8, and 9, which are of a suflicient size to seat thereineach without con- .tact with the others, as shown in Fig. 2.

The lowermost of said balls, (that indicated by 7) extends to the bottomthereof and fseats to entirely close the aperture leading also screwthreaded, in which is threaded the adjusting screw 11. This, as shown,is pro vided with a peripheral flange within said cap 10, to prevent thesame being threaded entirely out of the same and is provided with alongitudinal slot 12, in the side thereof to afford a vent and in itsupper end is provided with a transverse slot to afford engagement with ascrewdriver or any other suitable tool to adjust the same. Within saidcasing is the expansion rod 13. This may be a solid rod of coppervulcanite, or any suitable material and is rounded at both endscomplementally with the seat 5, at the lower` end of the casing so as toinsure seating fairly thereon whichever end is inserted first in thecasing. Said expansion rod or bar is longitudinally grooved on its sidesthereof, as shown in Fig. 4:, to permit the ready escape of air whensaid rod is lifted by the pressure thereof from below. The degree ofopening, of course, is determined by the adjustment of the adjustingscrew 11, which, when the device is assembled, is set so that lthere isthe requisite space between the top wardly below and in alinement withsaid casing is a centrally apertured extension 14,

to receive the screw cap 15, and packing 16. Removably engaged in thebore in said eX- tension is a cylindric body 17, having a seat in itsupper end, as shown in Fig. 2, in which is provided a float 1S, of anysuitable material which is provided centrally with a conical, upwardlytapering closure 19, which seats in the aperture 20, leading into saidcasing 3.

The lope-ration is as follows: Having threaded the valve into place, theplain end thereof extends well within the radiator sect-ion and issubjected at all times to the heat of the radiator. The casing 3, isturned upwardly, as shown, and the balls, 7 8, and 9 of successivelylarger size) seat on the side walls ofthe tapered seat 6. The adjustingscrew 11, is set up to a point such that the expansion of the expansionrod 13, when subjected to t-he relatively high temperature of the steamis suliicient to elongate the eX-l pansioii rod to positively bearagainst said adjusting nut and the seat 5, in the bottom ofthe casing.This immediately closes the valve and precludes the escape of steamtherethrough. In cooling, it is true that the expansion rod 13,contracts to an eXtent that would permit air finding its way there-`yaround into the radiator but the balls 7 8,

and 9, seat in the tapered passage by gravity owing to the release ofsteam pressure fromv the radiator, and entirely close said passage.Should the water of condensation or other water ever back up into thevalve, flow from the valve is effectively precluded by the float valve18, supported below the port or passage in the chamber. water lifts saidclosure, and seating the same entirely prevents the escape of waterfrom;

the radiator.

Of course, but one ball valve may be required. I do vnot purpose,however, limiting this application for patent to this featurev alone,inasmuch as it is obvious 4that any desired number of the ball valvesmay be employed to prevent the inflow of air to the radiator. It isobvious also that each if said balls when in bearing forms in fact asepa-A rate and ydistinct valve so that should one of the same fail toseat perfectly, the remaining valves must, of necessity, eectuallyclosel casing integral therewith having an eXpansion rod therein, aplurality of ball valves below the expansion `rod adapted to seat bygravity and atmospheric pressure to exclude the atmospheric air when theradiator is The intlowing4 y prevent the outward How of water.

`a casing integral with the stem, an `eXpan- `sion rod within thecas1ng,a conical passage cool, an extension integral with the stem whichat its lower end is externally threaded and having an open lower end, acylindric body therein having a seat at its upper end, a float valvenormally supported below the inlet in the stem by said cylindric bodyand adapted to seat to prevent water passing' from. the stem into thecasing, and a cap threaded on the lower end of the extension adapted topermit the removal of the float without disturbing the valves in thecasing. 2. In a radiator valve, a tubular stem, a casing integraltherewith having a conical downwardly tapering passage in the lower endthereof, a plurality of various sized ball valves adapted to seat in`said passage, an expansion rod within the casing, an adjusting screw inthe upper end of the casing, an eX- tension integral with the lstem andhaving van open lower end, a cylindric body therein vent water passingfrom the stem into the casing, and a cap on the lower end oftheextension adapted to permit the kremoval of 90 the float withoutdisturbing the valves in thevcasing. Y

3. In a device of the'class described a tubular inlet stem, a cylindriccasing extending at right angles therewith, an adjustable .915.

'expansion rod therein seating to `afford a valve against internal steampressure, a `pluvrality of gravity acting ball valves below theexpansion rod acting to close against atmospheric pressure, an extensionintegral 1:00 with the stem and -adjacent the casing, a cylindric bodytherein having a seat in its upper endand a float valve supportedthereby below the inlet in the stem adapted `to 1-05 4. In a device ofthe class described a tubular stem adapted to be threaded Iinto theradiator and extend well within the same,

in the lower end of the casing, a plurality of different sized ballvalves arranged one above the other in the passage, a centrallyapertured extension integral with thestem and adjacent the casing, ascrew'cap thread- 111:5 ed on the lower end thereof, a cylindric body inthe extension, a float supported thereby below the inlet in the stern, acentral upwardly tapering closure integral with the float and projectinginto the inlet in the 1120 stem adapted to prevent the outward flow ofwater.

5. A valve embracing a casing, a tubular stem integral therewith havinga passage l. In a radiator valve, a tubular stem, a-

therein opening through one end ther.eof,"a 1.25 conical seat in thelower end of the casing, means within the casing to resistthe linflowofatmospheric air, a centrally'apertured eX- tension integral with saidstem,a screw cap threaded on the end of the extension, a cy- 130 lindricbody in the extension, :t seat on the In testimony whereof I havehereunto subupper end thereof-and a float supported scribed my name inthe presence of two 10 therein below the inlet provided with acensubscribing witnesses.

tral upwardly tapering closure extending f 7 into the inlet and adaptedto seat against the ARIHUR O BRIEN conical seat in the lower end of thecasing Witnesses: and close the valve against outward iow of W. P. CARY,water. MINNIE RoDDA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

